Pickett Eyeing Wisconsin

Already having a connection with a member of Wisconsin's roster, El Cerrito (CA.) junior cornerback Adarius Pickett, one of California's top defensive backs, has interest in hearing more from the Badgers.

MADISON - California is rich in talent year in and year out and Wisconsin has been able to incorporate a few pieces on its roster. Now with head coach Gary Andersen and his staff having connections in the west, Wisconsin should be able to get into the mix for some of the state's top players, like El Cerrito (CA.) junior cornerback Adarius Pickett.

A physical 5-11, 180-pound cornerback, Pickett – ranked the No.26 cornerback in the country by Scout.com – finished his junior season with 63 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, one interception and 10 touchdowns.

"Recruiting has been going real well," Pickett told Badger Nation. "I have some offers, but looking to add more. I have also heard from Wisconsin by them sending me a lot of mail. I have been trying to get in contact with the secondary coach Ben Strickland lately. I am looking forward to hearing from Wisconsin soon and hopefully they offer me.

"I know Wisconsin is a great football school and they are real good. They have been to the Rose Bowl the last few years and have done real good. The football tradition is great too. If they did offer, then most definitely I would be interested. I am not worried about distance or weather either. I mean if it is the best fit for me, then it will be the best fit. Any school that I feel will benefit me and best fit me is the school I will be going too."

Wisconsin already has a connection with Pickett considering his brother played at De La Salle high school and was a former teammate with quarterback Bart Houston, who just completed his redshirt season at Wisconsin.

"I know Bart and he is a real nice dude," said Pickett. "I played with his little brother on my freshman team at De La Salle before I transferred to El Cerrito. Knowing someone at the school can be a helpful thing. I haven't talked to Bart in a couple of months, but we got a good friendship."

Pickett recently took a visit to UCLA's junior day, but doesn't have much on the table as far as visits go with baseball approaching. On that visit to the Bruins, his teammate - junior linebacker D.J. Calhoun - came along and says that a package deal between the two is very possible.

"D.J. was with me the whole time," said Pickett. "He had just dropped me off at my house and we are very tight. He is like my brother. We have talked about playing together in college and it has been circulating through both of our minds. I think it would be nice if we could both play together, so we will see."

The highly-touted defender doesn't have plans on making an early decision, but feels he's bringing a high level of confidence to whatever school he chooses.

"I play with a type of swag," Pickett said. "I am real physical and love tackling, being in people's \faces and frustrating wide receivers. I feel like when I jam receivers, I get them off time with the quarterback and that results in the quarterback not throwing my way. They know their man will not be open."